Help recommending a car for young driver doing high mileage €6-7K

Pmoylan

I have 6-7k to spend on something that looks good, is comfortable and reasonably quick. I don't care about fuel costs but looking to keep insurance within reason. Doing about 40k a year so has be to be somewhat reliable - combination of motorway and country roads

Currently driving a 07 1.6 Petrol Mazda 3 and has done me very well (360,000km) but now starting to show its age! The second generation model also looks quite nice, would consider getting the hatchback if it had CC/AC, has anyone any experience with these?

GavMan

Could you stretch to something like this?

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2011-bmw-520d-se-auto-f10-saloon/24920650

One too many owners maybe....

GavMan

Maybe a nice v6

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/mercedes-benz-c350-amg-v6-3-0-sport/24994738

Belfast

With the mileage you are doing I would consider a diesel.
2012 Mazda Mazda3 1.6D SPORT***GOOD CONDITION***GOOD SPEC***
€6,975
https://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=2519895&r=s.php%3Fm%5B%5D%3D51%26o%5B%5D%3D925%26d%3D6000%26e%3D7000%26f%3D2%26b%3D1%26t%3D1%26g%3D0

2012 Mazda Mazda3 1.6D SPORT
€6,999
https://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=2306334&r=s.php%3Fm%5B%5D%3D51%26o%5B%5D%3D925%26d%3D6000%26e%3D7000%26f%3D2%26b%3D1%26t%3D1%26g%3D0

edit.
On second thoughts as others have said a Mazda with a ford diesel engine is a bad idea.

petrol one.
2011 Mazda Mazda3 1.6 Sport 5DR
€6,495
https://www.carsireland.ie/detail.php?ad_id=2269740&r=s.php%3Fm%5B%5D%3D51%26o%5B%5D%3D925%26d%3D6000%26e%3D7000%26f%3D1%26t%3D1%26g%3D0

Review: Mazda 3 (2009 – 2013)
Stylish looks. Excellent steering and handling. Good quality interior. Impressive 2.2-litre chain cam diesel engine. Facelifted for 2012 and even better.

Slightly less spacious inside than old Mazda 3. 1.6 petrol gives ordinary performance. Lot of injector problems occurring with Ford 1.6 turbodiesel. ATE/Teves Mk 60 ABS/ESP module problems.
https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/mazda/3-2009/

if you can stretch you budget the new 2014 would be better as they do not use Ford engines,

https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/mazda/3-2014/


Good looking and well engineered. Efficient engines. Excellent steering and handling, better still from 2017 revamp. Compliant suspension.

https://www.carsireland.ie/search-results.php?make_id%5B%5D=51&model_id%5B%5D=925&min_year=2013&max_year=&colour_id=&body_type_id=&doors=&ncap_overall=&min_price=6000&max_price=10000&road_tax_cost=&mpg=&min_engine_id=14&max_engine_id=&fuel_type_id=2&transmission_type_id=1&max_power_bhp=&green_rating=&min_odo=0&max_odo=&odo_type=m&added=&seller=&ubf=0&fts=&fts_or=0&submit=Search+used+cars

colm_mcm

Belfast wrote: »

Review: Mazda 3 (2009 – 2013)
Stylish looks. Excellent steering and handling. Good quality interior. Impressive 2.2-litre chain cam Diesel engine. Facelifted for 2012 and even better.

That review lost all credibility there. That engine is probably the most troublesome modern diesel and has been for around 18 years non stop.

The 1.6 is not a Mazda unit, it’s from PSA and is pretty fragile too unless pampered. It’s the engine the review you’ve quoted calls a Ford unit.

TheBoyConor

Kia Ceed or Toyota Corolla.

Nuff said. Reliable motoring at a reasonable cost.

Anything beyond is an extravagance and probably won't be as reliable.

And as for that review pushing the diesel Mazda, lol. Ridiculous. They, along with the Ford 1.6, have to be among the worst and most unreliable and useless diesel engines ever made.
I don't know why they continue to tarnish their reputation by putting those engines into cars.

Belfast

colm_mcm wrote: »

That review lost all credibility there. That engine is probably the most troublesome modern diesel and has been for around 18 years non stop.

The 1.6 is not a Mazda unit, it’s from PSA and is pretty fragile too unless pampered. It’s the engine the review you’ve quoted calls a Ford unit.

On second thoughts you are right the 1.6 ford diseal engine is best avoided

Iodine1

Read the posts about Mazda diesels here, and I think anybody looking for reliability would keep well away.

CrankyHaus

If OP doesn't care about fuel costs, I'm guessing it's covered by a work card, then surely a comfortable petrol car that's priced low because most buyers are put off by the fuel bill is the way to go?

Belfast

colm_mcm wrote: »

That review lost all credibility there. That engine is probably the most troublesome modern diesel and has been for around 18 years non stop.

The 1.6 is not a Mazda unit, it’s from PSA and is pretty fragile too unless pampered. It’s the engine the review you’ve quoted calls a Ford unit.

Maybe that why they started to in put their own 2.2 litre diesel engine from 2014.

Mazda 3 Sport 2.2 SKYACTIV-D Manual, 150hp, 2014 6-speed
https://www.car.info/en-se/mazda/3/3-sport-22-skyactiv-d-m6-2014-42146

Not many petrol Mazda3 on the second hand market so if a petrol is need the Mazda may be out.

bazz26

They started putting their own diesel in the 3 because their association with Ford (who got the engine from Peugeot/Citroen) ended around that time. The Mazda built 2.2 diesel is far more unreliable than the 1.6 they got previously through Ford and PSA. The 2.0 and 2.2 that Mazda previously produced since 2002 were equally as unreliable. They are ticking time bombs and best avoided.

colm_mcm

Mazda have their own 1.5 diesel that’s not bad at all.

Pmoylan

Ended up looking at a 2010 Mazda 3 Sport hatchback with the 1.6 Petrol at the weekend. It's more spacious than you'd expect and it's the same engine as my current car - 366,000 Km on that one so happy enough with the reliability! 70,000 km on the one in looking at and AC, CC as well. very happy with what I saw, hoping to purchase it next weekend.

Belfast

Pmoylan wrote: »

Ended up looking at a 2010 Mazda 3 Sport hatchback with the 1.6 Petrol at the weekend. It's more spacious than you'd expect and it's the same engine as my current car - 366,000 Km on that one so happy enough with the reliability! 70,000 km on the one in looking at and AC, CC as well. very happy with what I saw, hoping to purchase it next weekend.

Is it an import?
if it has miles and kms on the speed it is probable an import from UK.
Mazda 3 hatch backs in that period are more common in the UK.

colm_mcm

How much is the tax on the 1.6 petrol?

Pmoylan

Belfast wrote: »

Is it an import?
if it has miles and kms on the speed it is probable an import from UK.
Mazda 3 hatch backs in that period are more common in the UK.

It's an import alright, miles adjusted to km on my post and MOT from last year says 40k miles.

Pmoylan

colm_mcm wrote: »

How much is the tax on the 1.6 petrol?

My 07 1.6 Petrol is around €550 a year in tax IIRC.
The 2010 1.6 Petrol is €390.

colm_mcm

Pmoylan wrote: »

My 07 1.6 Petrol is around €550 a year in tax IIRC.
The 2010 1.6 Petrol is €390.

That's good. the 2008/2009 ones were €570 on the Co2 tax, so they must have revised them by 2010.

Make sure car isn't rust free. especially as it's a UK import. Mazdas aren't renowned for their rust protection.

Pmoylan

colm_mcm wrote: »

That's good. the 2008/2009 ones were €570 on the Co2 tax, so they must have revised them by 2010.

Make sure car isn't rust free. especially as it's a UK import. Mazdas aren't renowned for their rust protection.

Had a look under the car when I saw it at the weekend and it's in very good shape, I will have to make sure and wash it well and regularly come winter

I had to replace the oil pan on mine last year due to rust but other than that my it's in good shape rust wise for the mileage aside from all the stone chips on the bonnet!

frw5

Just wait for the greens now theyll give a free Tesla to everyone.

Belfast

colm_mcm wrote: »

How much is the tax on the 1.6 petrol?

I think it is Annual road tax: €390

Kilboor

Hyundai i30, or Kia Ceed 2012+ and 2013+ 1.6 diesel models.

6-7k and bulletproof